Josh,
As George indicated, this species is gone as a breeder most likely for lots
of reasons.  Back when we still had about a half dozen or so breeding pairs
in MD, DNR did some banding studies to try and figure out what was
happening.  One of the factors was that there was little or no "juvenile
recruitment" - that is, young birds weren't returning to the area to breed.
In fact, some of them were found to have been hit by cars.  Their habit of
breeding in "hedgerows", which are frequently along roadsides, as well as
their habit of flying low to the ground and probably hunting bugs on the
road shoulders, are not very compatible with the human inhabitants of
roadways.  This insight was just another piece of the extirpation puzzle.

Lynn Davidson
Arnold, MD

----- Original Message -----
From: George M. Jett <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 7:18 AM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Loggerhead Shrikes


> Josh
>
> Loggerhead Shrike may have never been common here, but use to be
> concentrated in some areas.  We are on the northern end of the traditional
> breeding range.  Habitat changes, pesticides, change in farming practices,
> maybe feral cats, and other factors are likely to have contributed to
there
> extirpation from Maryland.  I don't think we really understand why the
rapid
> decline of this species.